Plansifter.



Patented Mar.` I2, i901.' A. LEVASSEUR. PLANSIFTEB. (Application med Apr. 4, 1900) (No Model.)

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ALBERT LEVASSEUR, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

PLANSIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming' part 0f Letters Patent NO. 669,586, dated March 12, 1901.

Application led April 4, 1900. Serial No. 11,467. (No model.)

`To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT LEVASSEUR, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing in Paris, France, have invented a new and use- Y following is a specication.

My invention relates to that class of sifting or bolting machines known as plansifters. In such devices as usually constructed the meal isled upon a horizontal or nearly horizontal bolting-cloth held in the shaker-frame, to which a circular or a gyrating motion is imparted by means of a special mechanism not connected with my invention, but which is well known in the art. Difficulties have been found in propelling the meal forward and in properly cleaning the cloth, so that the action may be continuous.

My improvement consists in a mechanism which prod uces'a regular and systematic advance of the meal upon the cloth or sieve and at the same time the cleaning of such cloth or sieve without any special organ coming in contact wit-h it to rub, brush, or strike it.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specication, Figure l is a perspective of a plan'sifter provided with my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a cross-section through y ,e of Fig. l. Fig. 3 shows a modification of a portion of my mechanism.

The mechanism consists of a shaker P P E E', to which are connected series of rods A A, bent to an angle, the extremities of which are fixed in blocks, like I) l), these blocks being solidly attached to the sides P and Q of the shaker-frame. The sides ofthe angle in each bent rod are made of uneven length. They may be placed to the right or to the left of the plansifter, according to the direction of rotation, care being taken that the shorter side be placed toward the exit side. On the longer side of each bent rod a cone, made of wood or any light material, slides freely. The travel of these cones is limited on one extremity by the blockb and at the other by the stop h. Each cone is so placed that its .base faces the exit side of the plansifter.

The diameter of the base must be less than the total height of the side pieces of the frame, so as to move freely on the rods, which guide them without coming in contact with the bolting-cloth or sieve. Any equivalent for these cones-such as,for instance,the device shown in Fig. 3-may be used. These propellingcones have the effect to prevent the retrograde motion of the meal during the backward circular or gyratory motion of the shaker. They thus allow the advance of the meal by successive phases in the direction of the exit. The direction of motion of the shaker-frame is indicated in Fig. l by the arrow c. Moreover, at each half-revolution of the plansifter these cones, by reason of theirinertia, strike against the stops, which limit their travel and in this manner tend to shake the frame supporting them, which shaking assists in cleansing the cloth.

The arrangement which allows the complete and automatic cleaning of the cloth consists in attaching a series of the above-described cones and their appurtenances toa iiexible longitudinal piece reaching from end to end of the plansifter. This piece Q is fixed at each extremity E E of the shaker-frame, but it has all the necessary play in the center between the distance-pieces G and M, which serve as guides. This play need not be more than a few millimeters and is limited by a notch h, cut in the upper distance-piece M, which is a little wider than the flexible piece Q, as shown in Fig. 2. The cloth itself is tacked to the under side of piece Q. The result is that at each revolution of the shaker the cones striking their stops will cause the flexible piece Q to vibrate, and the vibration will be communicated to the cloth, which will be thus continually and regularly cleaned.

It is plain that each shaker-frame may be divided into as many longitudinal channels as thought proper.

It will be seen thatmy improvement accomplishes two objects in a simple and efcient manner. The meal is systematically propelled forward,and the cloth is continually cleaned from all dross and gum.

What I claim as my invention isl. In a plansifter, the combinatiomwith the shaker, of mechanism to compel the forward advance of the meal, consisting of a guiderod set at an angle to the frame of the shaker and provided with stops, and "a propelling movable block sliding on said rod and limited in its movements by said stops.

2. In a plansifter, the combinatiomwith the ICO - shaker, of mechanism to compel the forward advance of the meal, consisting of a series of guide-rods set at an angle to the frame of the shaker and provided with stops, and a series of propelling movable cones with their bases toward the exit end sliding on said rods and limited in their movements by said stops.

3. Ina plansifter, the combination,with the gyratory sieve, of mechanism to insure the regular and continuous cleaning of the cloth,

which consists in the combination With the frame of the sieve, of a Iiexihle longitudinal piece attached at its extremities to said frame, a cloth attached to said flexible piece, a series of guide-rods connected to said flexible piece and set at an angle thereto, said guide-rods being provided with stops', and a series of propelling movable cones with their bases turned to the exit of the sifter and sliding between said stops.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. y

ALBERT LEvAssEUR.

Witnesses:

LOUIS SULLIGER, EDWARD P. MACLEAN. 

